Produced for the UAE Pavilion at the 2015 Milan World Expo, The Secret Life of Date Palms is a collection of scientific, empirical and anecdotal research compiled from design workshops, experiments, tests, samples, site visits and countless conversations with scientists, farmers, students, researchers and makers. The exhibition is an initial study, and as such, is an inherently incomplete survey of a subject which has become increasingly unfamiliar despite its historical significance, cultural relevance and material value.

In sharing this collection of objects with a broader audience, our endeavor is to tell the story of a species that continues to provide great value to the UAE. It is our hope that the spirit of engagement and ingenuity employed throughout history inspires others to find value in their own regional resources, climates and cultures.